An overview of vaginitis and vulvovaginal health

Abstract

Vaginitis is defined as any condition characterised by symptoms of abnormal vaginal discharge, odour, irritation, itching, or burning. Vaginitis has different types, including bacterial vaginosis (BV), vaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis, and aerobic vaginitis. This review focuses on the first three common types of vaginitis. In cases of vaginitis, BV is associated with 40–50% of cases, while vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) accounts for 20–25%, and trichomoniasis for 15–20%. Most infections related to BV have been linked to post-abortion and postpartum endometritis. Candida infection in pregnant women has many consequences, such as low birth weight infants, premature labour, and complications that may lead to abortions. Consequently, these women must be screened for infections to manage them appropriately. Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world. Previous studies have revealed that trichomoniasis favours the occurrence of BV and infection from both microorganisms in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient, hindering the treatment of both diseases. BV has been seen to cause cellular alterations in the cervix. At the same time, trichomoniasis favours the acquisition of human papillomavirus and is associated with inflammatory disease in HIV-infected women. This review article aims to summarise the aetiology, diagnosis, treatment, and coinfection rates of the vaginitis pathogens.